Thirsty Thursday rallies wider to win

CHESTER PA – Thirsty Thursday (Huntsville) yielded to favored Railroad Station to sit the pocket in the $13,500 featured pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, then moved out of the two-hole and caught the chalk by a neck in a 1:50.4 harness racing mile.

THIRSTY THURSDAY REPLAY

Thirsty Thursday, an altered sophomore son of Huntsville, was on top well before a :27.1 quarter, then yielded to the brusher in front of the stands and sat in the golden chair through middle splits of :55.4 and 1:23.2. Railroad Station had a :27.2 last quarter left in him, but it wasn’t enough to stall the rallying-wide winner, who was driven by Simon Allard for trainer Hunter Oakes and the ownership of Flying A Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey.

The Betting Line gelding Bettor Not Talk had little trouble in beating out the $11,000 fast-class pacing field in 1:50. Tim Tetrick got him away third, then moved nearing the :27.2 quarter and grabbed command, put up middle splits of :55.1 and 1:22.3, and maintained full control to the wire. Scott Di Domenico conditions the winner for owner Allen Wenc.

After the 1-2 knockouts by distaffs Twin B Joe Fresh and Miki And Minnie at The Meadowlands Saturday night, trainer (and new Hall of Famer) Chris Ryder sent out a first-time starter in the freshman Stay Hungry – Fashion Hill colt Panther Hanover. And the Tom Hill-owned baby was most impressive, making the lead from the outermost slot, then storming home in :55 – :26.4 to leave his field well behind in 1:53 under the guidance of Dexter Dunn.

Dunn was also behind debutant Brandon Blvd,  a Downbytheseaside – Alexis Faith colt who fetched $425,000 at auction, and he went wire-to-wire with fractions of :29.3, :59.3, and 1:27.3, with pocketsitter Mick Steamy staying close but not a big threat in the 1:55.2 mile. Andrew Harris trains the freshman for himself, William Pollock, and Bruce Areman. Dunn led all Philly drivers on the afternoon with three victories.

 For the second card in a row, driver Johnathan Ahle brought in a $50+ winner, taking the local lead in that category. His win on Sunday with R N RT Band ($64.00) followed the meet’s highest-priced winner, Sporty Design ($136.20), on Friday.

Harrah’s schedule during the month of July is Wednesday through Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40. This week Philly hosts Pennsylvania Sire Stakes / Stallion Series competition for trotting fillies: two-year-olds on Thursday and three-year-olds on Friday. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia